Tag Archives: Palm Sunday

Sermon: Was Jesus a violent or a peaceful protester?

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Avril Hannah-Jones

The role of those buying and selling in the temple was necessary and natural. Worshippers needed to change money with the head of the Roman emperor on it for money without it to make offerings; the poor and lepers and women needed to buy doves to be sacrificed. More than that, the entire economy of Jerusalem depended on pilgrims coming to the temple at festivals and spending their money in the city. Modern politicians know that nothing can get the people offside faster than a cost-of-living crisis; that it is always ‘the economy, stupid,’ to quote Bill Clinton’s campaign. Jesus is challenging the religious and economic status quo. Within the week, those who found the status quo comfortable fought back. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Until warring powers cry ‘Enough!’

Posted on April 13, 2025 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church ‘Palm’ Sunday, 13th of April, 2025 Luke 19:28-48 Today we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem for the Passover. Like pilgrims throughout time, Jesus’ disciples rejoice as they enter the holy city, praising God for … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Street marches

Posted on March 23, 2024 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Palm Sunday, 24th of March 2023 Psalm 118:1-2 19-29 Mark 11:1-11 After hearing today’s gospel story, of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem the week before his death, I am a little surprised that the Roman powers … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Our Only King

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Avril Hannah-Jones

We Christians should be inoculated against such awe. We venerate and revere only God. Our ‘powerful leader’ is Jesus, who is gentle and humble in heart, and whose yoke is easy, and burden light. (Matthew 11:28-30) But we are human beings, and so we are just as prone to revering people for the wrong things – wealth, heritage, title, fame – as Trump supporters. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Thank God! Palm Sunday and Refugees

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Avril Hannah-Jones

I believe that Australia’s mistreatment of the asylum seekers who sought refuge here by boat has in recent years been this country’s greatest sin. It is supported by both the ALP and the LNP, and has broken the hearts of supporters of both. Continue reading →

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Sermon: A different sort of power

Posted on March 27, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Here we see the true King, the only leader we are called to follow, showing an alternate vision to the Pax Romana, a different way of exercising power, with humility and gentleness. The crowds cheer: the powers that be, both Roman and Temple, worry. Ultimately, the powers that be will conspire to kill him. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Palm Sunday Protests

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

There can be no ‘Walk for Justice for Refugees’, which churches and community groups have held on this Sunday for years as our government’s attacks on people seeking asylum have got worse. We are seeing a very different Palm Sunday, a much more subdued one than we would normally experience. But its importance, its message, remains the same. Continue reading →

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Palm Sunday Sermon for the combined service

Posted on April 13, 2019 by Avril Hannah-Jones

we can work for peace, justice and reconciliation with complete confidence, because God has already won the victory Continue reading →

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Sermon: Innocent Blood

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Avril Hannah-Jones

We see in Jesus on the cross every innocent victim of political expediency and hate. In every innocent person hated for their race or religion or nationality or gender or sexuality we see Jesus. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Following Jesus to the streets

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Ultimately, the powers that be conspire to kill Jesus. This is what the powerful do when they feel threatened; either symbolically or literally they kill the threat. In Jerusalem two thousand years ago the threat was Jesus, whose entry into Jerusalem told people that there was a different way to be, beyond the choices offered by the contemporary Roman and Jewish leaders. On the day that we remember as Palm Sunday Jesus took that message to the streets. Two thousand years’ later, we are called to follow him in taking the same message of a different way to the streets. Continue reading →

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